University of Cambridge loses authoritarian legal attempt to stop pro-Palestine protests

The University of Cambridge has lost its legal bid to stop pro-Palestine, anti-genocide protests on certain parts of its campus.

University of Cambridge: draconian actions

Palestine campaigners have welcomed an important victory in defence of their rights to protest. At short notice the University of Cambridge attempted to secure a draconian five year long injunction to prevent specifically Israel and Palestine-related protest at key sites on campus.

This unprecedented attack on the right to protest and freedom of expression was defeated in court by the ELSC, who intervened in support of campaigners.

The University of Cambridge attempted to argue that the injunction until 2030 was urgently required before graduation ceremonies this weekend, but the judge Mr Justice Fordham dismissed this application, saying he would grant only a “very narrow and limited court order” until Saturday 1 March 2025.

This only prohibits entry and erecting structures – other protest is not injuncted.

A further hearing is scheduled for March as the judge said it was “a matter of significant concern” that the university’s application offered little time for potential interested parties to properly respond.

Ahead of the hearing, ELSC, PSC, Liberty, and UCU were joined by Cambridge SU and the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Assembly to condemn the university’s discriminatory attack on fundamental rights to protest, which disproportionately affects Palestinian students and staff.

The university sought to silence those demanding that it ends its complicity in Israel’s genocide. PSC research has previously found that British universities invest nearly £430m in companies complicit in Israel’s violations of international law.

A significant victory

Ben Jamal, PSC director, said:

This is an important victory for freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, both of which should be cornerstones of university life. The University of Cambridge tried to single out Palestinian staff and students and those speaking up for international law, and subject them to draconian restrictions not applied to protestors on any other issue. This decision should mark a watershed in defence of freedom of expression and the right to protest.

Anna Ost, senior legalofficer, ELSC, said:

This is a significant victory – one that sends a strong message to other universities attempting to impose such draconian restrictions on freedom of assembly and protest. The University of Cambridge’s efforts to undermine its students’ civil liberties – by seeking an injunction to effectively ban expressions of Palestine solidarity both on and off campus until 2030 – represented the broadest restriction on university protests to date. We are thrilled that the court has refused to grant it today, but this fight is not over. Another hearing is scheduled for the end of March, and we hope the court will recognise, as we do, that this is a blatant violation of students’ fundamental rights.

Since October 2023, we have witnessed ongoing attempts to undermine students’ right to protest and to challenge their institutions’ complicity in violations of international law and genocide. It is our responsibility to fight this wider pattern of repression against our movement, on university campuses or otherwise, and against our civil liberties in the legal terrain.

Cambridge 4 Palestine commented:

This decision represents a massive political victory for our movement in solidarity with Palestine, and for student political expression at large. The court has revealed that Cambridge’s racist targeting of Palestinian identity, and demonisation of students and staff who protest the University’s complicity in genocide is baseless and unacceptable.

At the same time, however, C4P asserted that “the freedom to protest is the bare minimum and a fundamental right. Our true win will come when we see an end to the University’s partnership with Israel’s genocidal campaigns”.

Featured image via the Canary